Slow start dooms Women's Basketball in 61-53 loss at Trine (Ind.)

By Scott Beaton

ANGOLA, Ind. — The Ohio Northern women's basketball team got off to a frigid start, as it fell to Trine (Ind.) 61-53 on Saturday afternoon at the MTI Center.

The Polar Bears (6-2 overall) were held scoreless in the first 6:53, missing their first 10 shots. The Thunder, which jumped out to a 10-0 run to start the game, improve to 6-3 on the season.

Junior Emily Brock (Akron/Revere) provided a spark off the ONU bench, going 3-for-4 from 3-point range, ending the game with nine points.

Freshman Brynn Serbin (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) added eight points, four rebounds, and a pair of assists. Senior Emily Mescher (Maria Stein/Marion Local) contributed six points, eight boards, and a trio of dimes.

Trine extended its initial 10-0 lead to 29-17 with 2:08 left in the first half.

A 3-pointer by sophomore Jaidyn Hale (Lima/Bath) cut the deficit to 31-23 after 20 minutes of play.

The Polar Bears drew within three after Brock drilled a 3-pointer with 4:36 remaining in the third period.

TU answered with a 7-2 run to lead 47-39 two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Northern cut the deficit to five via 3-pointers on three separate occasions in the final 7:36 — senior Abby Weeks (West Chester/Mount Notre Dame) with 7:36 to go, senior Jaclyn Yankle (Youngstown/Cardinal Mooney) with 6:39 to go, and sophomore Kate Iliff (Lorain/Amherst Steele) with 3:39 to go.

The Thunder held ONU without a basket for the next 2:39. A lay-up and foul put Trine up 61-53 with 49 seconds to put the game out of reach.

ONU was 19-for-56 (33.9 percent) from the floor and made a season-high 11 3-pointers on 30 attempts (36.7 percent). TU went 23-for-50 (46.0 percent) from the field and 9-for-25 (36.0 percent) from deep.

The Polar Bears held a 36-29 advantage on the glass, including 14 offensive rebounds.

Ohio Northern travels to the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational next, facing Manchester (Ind.) on Dec. 29 and Ohio Wesleyan on Dec. 30.